Despite their 4-11 record, it’s not like the Arizona Cardinals are devoid of talent. Hiring the right coach could bring out the best in them.
Eric Bieniemy would be a rookie head coach, and anyone who knows me also knows that I don’t like rookie head coaches. Sure, I mentioned Bryon Leftwich could be an outlier since he was part of a winning culture for a short while in the desert. Another name I didn’t mention was Eric Bieniemy, the current offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seemingly every season, Bieniemy’s name is mentioned as a potential head coach, and every year, teams pass on him. One reason could stem from the fact he has coached under Andy Reid and that he has Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, which could inflate his value. Others say that he doesn’t interview well.
However, for someone like Bieniemy, who has been passed over so many times, I’m getting the vibe that there is no other potential head coach in the NFL that would take advantage of the opportunity more than the Chiefs offensive coordinator. Perpetual rejection does funny things to people (and coaches), and the will to go above and beyond above and beyond (not a typo) is yet another trait the Cardinals should look for in a head coach.
Eric Bieniemy would be great for the Arizona Cardinals
One reason I like Bieniemy is his ability to adjust. This season, the Chiefs did not have Tyreek Hill, yet they still played at a high level. Yeah, he still had Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but his ability to maintain the league’s top passing offense without Hill speaks volumes.
Further, Bieniemy would have a plethora of talent to work with in the desert. Quarterback Kyler Murray will return in time for the season barring an unforeseen setback, James Conner has rejuvenated, and Marquise Brown looked good in his first season with the Redbirds.
Zach Ertz was productive this year before his own ACL injury ended his season, and DeAndre Hopkins will most likely be back, unless someone offers a ransom for the soon-to-be 31-year-old wideout.
Further, D.J. Humphries will pilot the driver’s seat at tackle. And the Cardinals have more pieces to work with along the offensive line than some think, with Lecitus Smith and Josh Jones possibly establishing themselves in camp.
Bieniemy would have to hire a sound defensive coordinator, as the incumbent Vance Joseph has seen some recent sputters despite a hot start to the season. Even if the defense struggles, Bieniemy would bring a winning formula to Arizona for the offense. And with the talent on that side of the ball, don’t be surprised if the long-overlooked coach returns the Arizona Cardinals to playoff contention in 2023 if hired.
Article Source: Eric Bieniemy: Future Cardinals Coaching Candidate? by Donnie Druin
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)
Want your voice heard? Join the Raising Zona team!